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Tag: Speeches

  • Anneliese Dodds – 2021 Comments on Supporting Those Self-Isolating

    Anneliese Dodds – 2021 Comments on Supporting Those Self-Isolating

    The comments made by Anneliese Dodds, the Shadow Chancellor of the Exchequer, on 22 February 2021.

    Anyone who needs support to self-isolate should be able to access it – no matter where they live or when they develop symptoms. That is the only way we can keep the virus under control when restrictions are lifted, avoid the devastating economic damage of another lockdown and help the vaccine programme succeed.

    However, under the current system just three in 10 people who should be self-isolating are doing so.

    The Government’s roadmap to recovery must improve the system of self-isolation in this country. That means expanding the Test and Trace Support Payment to those who don’t have a workplace sick pay scheme, better enforcement, and action to fix the broken system of Statutory Sick Pay.

    This will help prevent another lockdown, protect public health and secure our economy.

  • Steve Reed – 2021 Comments on Helping Museums and Theatres

    Steve Reed – 2021 Comments on Helping Museums and Theatres

    The comments made by Steve Reed, the Shadow Communities Secretary, on 22 February 2021.

    Theatres, galleries, cinemas and museums are the cultural heartbeat of our town centres but they are under threat as never before because of this Government’s incompetence and economic mismanagement.

    The Chancellor’s dither and delay has created uncertainty for businesses, cost jobs and threatened our recovery, despite Labour’s repeated calls to provide businesses with breathing space by extending the business rate holiday and the VAT cut for hospitality and leisure.

    Britain can’t afford the Chancellor to make the same irresponsible mistake all over again. He must give businesses certainty and reduce the risk of losing both jobs and life-enhancing cultural institutions.

  • Oliver Dowden – 2021 Comments on Women’s Sport

    Oliver Dowden – 2021 Comments on Women’s Sport

    The comments made by Oliver Dowden, the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, on 19 February 2021.

    We are committed to helping our treasured sports through these challenging times. And today’s announcement is more evidence of our support for them.

    In particular, Women’s sport has faced acute pressures. The past few years have seen fantastic progress – with greater participation, employment, commercial opportunities and visibility in the media. I am determined not to let it take a back seat again.

    This targeted funding will enable sports to keep playing and inspire many more stars of the future.

  • Ed Davey – 2021 Comments about Chinese New Year

    Ed Davey – 2021 Comments about Chinese New Year

    The comments made by Ed Davey, the Leader of the Liberal Democrats, on 12 February 2021.

    This year we welcome The Year of the Ox – an animal known for its strength, diligence and hardworking nature. These are positive values to which we should all aspire to live our lives by.

    The New Year is usually a time of large family get-togethers. This year however, intimate, virtual celebrations will be the norm. I know the adjustment won’t be easy but let us keep doing our part to suppress this virus.

    As we welcome the New Year, we must also honour the immeasurable contributions of British Chinese communities to our country. Thank you to the generations who have helped build our country and made it the success it is today.

    Let us also recognise the hard work and sacrifice of those working on the frontline, the dedication of those looking after their families and the commitment of those supporting their local communities.

    Celebrations like this remind us of what makes Britain unique; the diversity of our nation, the rich mosaic of people, cultures and backgrounds who all come together to carry forward the work of making this a country we can be proud of.

    So, to everyone celebrating, I wish you happiness and good health in 2021. Xin Nian Kuai Le!

  • David Duguid – 2021 Comments on Support for Fishing Industry

    David Duguid – 2021 Comments on Support for Fishing Industry

    The comments made by David Duguid, the Minister for Scotland, on 21 February 2021.

    Over the last few months, we have been listening to the seafood industry and have continued to monitor the impacts that the pandemic and export disruption has played on prices, exports and the market.

    I am confident in the quality of Scottish fish and seafood but for many fishing businesses the lack of demand in the hospitality trade in the UK and further afield has had a real impact on market prices.

    While we continue to take steps to beat this virus and work with the sector to resolve export issues – this expanded support scheme will help the many small and medium sized fishing businesses that support so many of our coastal communities.

  • George Eustice – 2021 Comments on Support for Fishing Industry

    George Eustice – 2021 Comments on Support for Fishing Industry

    The comments made by George Eustice, the Secretary of State for the Environment, on 21 February 2021.

    Our fishermen are at the heart of many of our coastal communities and we recognise the impact of coronavirus and the end of the transition period on them. This expansion of our £23 million support package will ensure many more businesses can benefit from government support.

    The coronavirus pandemic has led to the closure of critical markets, and this has been exacerbated by issues faced by exporters at the border. We will continue to ensure we are listening to our fishing and seafood industry as we work to resolve these issues, and work with them to build up the industry in the months and years ahead.

  • Jim McMahon – 2021 Comments on Smart Motorways

    Jim McMahon – 2021 Comments on Smart Motorways

    The comments made by Jim McMahon, the Shadow Secretary of State for Transport, on 21 February 2021.

    It’s a tragedy that so many have lost their lives on smart motorways. There can be no more dither and delay – ministers must take action now to reinstate the hard shoulder to prevent more deaths and urgently report on the results of the evidence review.

  • Rachel Reeves – 2021 Letter to Matt Hancock over His Conduct

    Rachel Reeves – 2021 Letter to Matt Hancock over His Conduct

    The letter written by Rachel Reeves, the Shadow Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster, on 21 February 2021.

    Dear Secretary of State,

    I am writing today following the judicial review ruling yesterday by the High Court that the “Secretary of State for Health and Social Care acted unlawfully by failing to comply with the Transparency Policy” and that “there is now no dispute that, in a substantial number of cases, the Secretary of State breached his legal obligation to publish Contract Award Notices within 30 days of the award of contracts.”

    In handing down the judgment, the Judge also said: “The Secretary of State spent vast quantities of public money on pandemic-related procurements during 2020. The public were entitled to see who this money was going to, what it was being spent on and how the relevant contracts were awarded.”

    The Judge went on to say that if Government had complied with its legal obligations, there would have been the ability “to scrutinise CANs and contract provisions, ask questions about them and raise any issues with oversight bodies such as the NAO or via MPs in Parliament.”

    Given this clear legal ruling, and recent serious stories of cronyism and waste at the heart of this Government’s pandemic procurement, I am writing to you today to ask you six questions which I hope you will urgently answer:

    • Will you commit to publishing all outstanding contracts, winding down emergency procurement powers and reintroducing tendering, in light of the ruling and the huge amount of waste and cronyism marring Covid procurement?
    • When do you expect the government will find the billions of pounds worth of PPE, which you recently commissioned outside consultants to track down?
    • Do you think the government should have given Public First a Covid contract?
    • With the new NHS White Paper assigning increasing powers to the Secretary of State to hand out contracts, how does the government propose to hold itself accountable on who those contracts are handed to?
    • Does the government believe it is impossible to act with speed on PPE procurement without handing out contracts to friends and donors of the Conservative party?
    • Why won’t the government publish details of contracts awarded through its VIP fast lane? Given £1.7 billion has gone through this lane, do you think taxpayers deserve to know?

    I know you will appreciate how important it is that taxpayers know how their money is being spent through these contracts, that the government wants to tackle claims of cronyism and that, given this ruling of unlawfulness, that the government and yourself will do everything possible to maximise transparency, accountability and scrutiny.

    Many thanks,

    Rachel Reeves MP
    Shadow Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster

  • Rachel Reeves – 2021 Comments on Matt Hancock’s Illegal Actions

    Rachel Reeves – 2021 Comments on Matt Hancock’s Illegal Actions

    The comments made by Rachel Reeves, the Shadow Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster, on 21 February 2021.

    Matt Hancock cannot simply brush off this court ruling. He must commit to cleaning up the cronyism and waste that has marred government contracting during the pandemic.

    We have tried to get answers about who is getting VIP treatment but the Conservatives are refusing to tell us. Now we know the Health Secretary acted unlawfully, these are no longer questions he can ignore.

    The government must publish the outstanding contracts and details of the VIP lane as a first step to restoring public confidence.

  • Oliver Dowden – 2021 Comments on European Commission’s Draft Data Adequacy Decisions

    Oliver Dowden – 2021 Comments on European Commission’s Draft Data Adequacy Decisions

    The comments made by Oliver Dowden, the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, on 19 February 2021.

    I welcome the publication of these draft decisions which rightly reflect the UK’s commitment to high data protection standards and pave the way for their formal approval.

    Although the EU’s progress in this area has been slower than we would have wished, I am glad we have now reached this significant milestone following months of constructive talks in which we have set out our robust data protection framework.

    I now urge the EU to fulfil their commitment to complete the technical approval process promptly, so businesses and organisations on both sides can seize the clear benefits.